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LONDON—The GSM Association announced GSM-CDMA inter-standard international roaming has been achieved between its Global Roaming Forum (GGRF), Korean CDMA operator Korea Telecom Freetel (KTF) and French GSM 1800 network operator …

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa—South African mobile network operator Vodacom has launched a new prepaid tariff option offering the cheapest peak time prepaid rates in the country. The product, called SmartStep, charges …

OXFORD, United Kingdom—In an effort to stimulate the use of General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)-based services, Telia Mobile has become the first cell-phone operator to offer GPRS roaming throughout the …

DENVER, United States—Mexico’s Grupo Salinas has secured a cellular license in Nicaragua after delays in finalizing the deal. Reuters reported the Mexican company’s Nicaraguan operation, PCS de Nicaragua, is authorized …

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JOHANNESBURG, South Africa—The South African government has sold its 20-percent stake in mobile operator M-Cell to Ice Finance, a Dutch investor, for US$475 million. The sale was seen as a …

LONDON—Jordanian operator Fastlink has unveiled its countrywide commercial General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) service. The service will enable post-paid customers to have always-on connections to the Internet via their mobiles. …

HELSINKI, Finland—Skanova, the wholesale division of the Swedish state telecom Telia, signed a letter of understanding to sell network capacity to Svenska UMTS-net, a company that is building a Universal …

BUCHAREST, Romania—Austrian operator One said it will launch third-generation (3G) services in the second half of 2002 once sufficient handsets are available. In addition, the operator said it managed to …

PARIS—Alcatel has won a contract to expand the capacity of Turkish operator Aycell’s GSM 1800 MHz network. The three-year, US$144 million contract will allow the operator to offer enhanced services, …

NEW YORK—The planned 5 January completion of the merger between SK Telecom and SK Shinsegi Telecom, which together control 52 percent of South Korea’s mobile-phone customers, hit a roadblock at …

DENVER, United States—Nothing demonstrates that the sun will eventually set on TDMA technology as strongly as the decision by its supreme advocates, the Universal Wireless Communications Consortium (UWCC), to dissolve …

NEW YORK—The planned Jan. 5 completion of the merger between SK Telecom and SK Shinsegi Telecom, which together control 52 percent of South Korea’s mobile phone customers, hit a roadblock …

HELSINKI, Finland—Sonera opened its third-generation network in Finland on Jan. 1 in line with its license conditions. However, commercial service will not begin until UMTS phones become available to consumers. …

PARIS—Alcatel has won a contract to expand the capacity of Turkish operator Aycell’s GSM 1800 MHz network. The three-year, $144 million will allow the operator to offer enhanced services, Alcatel …

1. Jan. 29 Re-auction brings in record $17B to FCC After 101 rounds and $16.85 billion, the Federal Communications Commission’s auction of 422 personal communications services licenses ended last Friday. …

WASHINGTON-2002 offers the wayward wireless industry a chance to begin to redeem and redefine itself. But it won’t be easy, and survival skills will be essential. Indeed, with economic sluggishness …

Boingo Wireless Inc. launched with plans to provide wireless Internet access at speeds up to 11 Megabits per second in major hotels, airports and coffee shops. Founded by Sky Dayton, …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-Tele2 announced a mobile virtual network operator agreement in Germany with Viag Interkom. Tele2 will use Viag’s mobile network to provide the air interface for Tele2’s fixed-line customers. The …

ROME—Telecom Italia has agreed to sell its 26.89-percent stake in Spanish telecom operator Auna for US$1.8 billion. The other Auna shareholders will each take part of the holding. Banco Santander …

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina—Personal launched its GSM/General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) 1900 MHz service, provided by Ericsson, in parts of Buenos Aires, becoming the first operator to install a GSM network …

HELSINKI, Finland—Finnish vendor Tecnomen said it will supply a messaging solution to Brazilian operator Algar Telecom Leste (ATL). The deal, worth around US$1.6 million, comprises a combination of voice mail, …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden—Tele2 announced a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) agreement in Germany with Viag Interkom. Tele2 will use Viag’s mobile network to provide the air interface for Tele2’s fixed-line customers. …

TORONTO—Canada’s Redknee said that Ireland’s mobile-phone operator Digifone selected its location services application for its mobile customers.

ROME—Telecom Italia has agreed to sell its 26.89-percent stake in Spanish telecom operator Auna for $1.8 billion. The other Auna shareholders will each take part of the holding. Banco Santander …